And finally for the moment, an architect's reply to the above comment:

QUOTE

At the time of the 'miles better' and 'city of culture' campaigns some (but far from all) of the city centre streetscape was overhauled, with prominent use of fine Caithness flags and Brazilian granite setts. There has been considerable wear and tear, with flags left damaged and broken by vehicles and cack-handed 'restoration' of areas after excavation. No sign of reasonable care in maintenance.

Some of the central streets - let alone the spectacularly sleazy back alleys - were never given the 'treatment'.

More recently large advertising panels have been installed on many pavements, obstructing pedestrian movement and creating hazards for the disabled, blind and infirm.

Meanwhile the city council has been led by people who've proved themselves devoid of integrity.

'All fur coat and no knickers' could be a fit description - and it's a rat-eaten fur coat.

Two independent council sources? Sounds like moves are afoot to oust him, and if the stories are true quiet right too. Add the dalliance in the park and i'm wondering why he's still a Councillor never mind leader.

--------------------

“The most puzzling development in politics during the last decade is the apparent determination of Western European leaders to re-create the Soviet Union in Western Europe.”Mikhail Gorbachev

The item in the Herald,(unfortunately unconfirmed sources) puts the whole George Square situation into a very different light.Is it really possible that one man proposed the change,organised a world wide competition which when concluded was over ruled by him on the grounds that it was against the publics wishes or as is suggested it was not his choice of regeneration plans that were picked?In this instance I really wish the "sources" would man up and come out into the open and let the public know exactly what is happening otherwise this whole saga will fester on.No matter what occurred public money was used to finance this fiasco which drew public opprobrium right from the outset so why did one man wait till the 24th hour to pull the plug?The truth needs to be got at.

Elequently put as usual Jupiter, but this just goes to show once more that we can rarely believe anything we read in the papers. That is why I treat it all with a very cynical eye, as usually, the truth will out - eventually.

Whatever, the sooner this Matheson is out, the better - or are the rest as bad?.

So he didnae really listen to the people but just listened to his own ego talking to him. What kind of crazy mixed-up stuff is going on in City Chambers. The city is being made a laughing stock by this sorry mess and nobody seems to be able to stop it. Politicians ignoring pollsters and the public and then ignoring the experts they brought in in the first place. And now we are back at square one and the councillors are busy fighting among themselves.

Agree with you Jupiter and Rab.... the truth needs to be got at and if Matheson wont let that happen then he has to go. Time for the other councillors to stand up and be counted and not hide behind journalists!!

The 'winning' architect met the public today to discuss how his company's plans can go ahead. John McAslan met more than 30 people who turned out this afternoon to make sure their opinions on the scrapped redevelopment plan for the civic space were heard. He said:

QUOTE

"I am here because I think it is important that architects are seen as people who listen and who engage. We are prepared to engage and we want to try and rescue something from this process," said John.

I would like to see something happen. I am from Glasgow, I was born in Glasgow, all of my family is from Glasgow and my great-grandfather wrote the history of Glasgow in 1920 so it is in my blood.

To me you wouldn’t get a better commission than George Square because it is where I am from.

It is all very personal. It is not about money, it is about trying to do what you think is the right thing and because of my upbringing I have got a stickler when I think processes aren’t followed. Politicians are known for wriggling around.

I would like to meet Gordon Matheson. It is good to meet somebody who you can engage with and have two people who share two very strong views about something.

He will have a strong view and I will have a strong view but I can honestly see a positive outcome.

I think that the reason it was dropped was because he [Councillor Matheson] didn’t get the scheme that he wanted to win. He was part of the process that selected the winner and I think you have to honour that.

You had really good firms entering and his actions undermine the process. But I would like to think that we can draw a line under it. We are in the second stage which is to engage.

We have had this meeting which has been great and people turned up and we will get the social media thing going. We will develop ideas, have public meetings, talk about it and by the time we meet Councillor Matheson have a plan.

It’s all about communications and you can communicate an idea slightly differently. What we have done is two tiny little shifts, one is more greenery by turning off the water and the second a slightly less linear approach by turning down the limestone, that’s graphics."

With all due respect to Mr McAslan's sincerity - grit and determination - his 'alternative' submission, appears to be missing some (if not ALL)the odd statue here and there!(Unless their hiding in the woods wie the kids frae Narnia)

All material in the site Glasgow Guide is copyright of the Glasgow Guide Organisation. This material is for your own private use only, and no part of the site may be reproduced, amended, modified, copied, or transmitted to third parties, by any means whatsoever without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved.